“The Baroque Trumpet Ensemble Berlin, founded in 1990 by Johann Plietzsch, specializes in trumpet music from 1500 to 1800. The repertoire of the ensemble extends from the oldest preserved processional and ceremonial music of the court trumpeters, through the period of the flourishing art of playing clarino in Europe from the end of the 17th. to the middle of the 18th. century, to the orchestral trumpet parts of the Classical Period.

The main core of the ensemble consists of four baroque trumpets and timpani. Cooperation with singers and other instrumentalists allows the presentation of the full extend of baroque trumpet music possibilities, from intimate chamber music to the full-scored sound of court music in all its splendor. Thus it is possible to present to the listener all the rich sounds of the early music tradition.”

“Les Sacqueboutiers, an ensemble based in Toulouse, playing on early brass instruments. Les Sacqueboutiers have been in existence for just over a quarter of a century, during which time they have built up a reputation as one of the finest early music ensembles on the international scene.

Regarded by specialists and the public alike as a reference in the interpretation of seventeenth-century instrumental music, particularly that of Italy and Germany, the ensemble has reaped the highest awards for its recordings.

When they decided to form Les Sacqueboutiers in 1974, Jean-Pierre Canihac and Jean-Pierre Mathieu were among the first to embark on the adventurous rediscovery of early instruments. The quality if their work soon attracted attention, and they took part in the groundbreaking recording of Monteverdi's Vespro della Beata Vergine, conducted by Michel Corboz. Since then, they have performed music ranging from the Renaissance to Mozart, with many prestigious ensembles including Les Arts Florissants (William Christie), La Chapelle Royale (Philippe Herreweghe), A Sei Voci (Bernard Fabre-Garrus), Elyma (Gabriel Garrido), La Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy (Jean-Claude Malgoire), and the Clément Janequin Ensemble (Dominique Visse). ..“

"Formed in 1991 and led by László Borsódy, Sonatores Pannoniæ Brass Ensemble plays 16th-17th century festive music on replicas of the musical instruments of that era. With the members having found a common voice both as musicians and friends, Sonatores is dedicated to play early music with an authentic feel that offers their audience the experience of a true journey in time as opposed to that of visiting a museum or a dusty archives of sheet music.

Sonatores Pannoniæ is the only historical brass ensemble in Hungary and is one of the few such groups in Europe. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

"Anneke Scott is “rapidly emerging as one of the outstanding younger exponents of the natural horn”. Having begun her studies at The Royal Academy of Music, London she was awarded prestigious scholarships to further her study in France and Holland where she concentrated on the various aspects of period horns. ...

For many years she has had a keen interest in chamber music which led to her becoming a founder member of The Etesian Ensemble. Through this ensemble she met the fortepianist Kathryn Cok with whom she formed a duo specialising in classical and romantic repertoire for horn and fortepiano. Kathryn and Anneke have recently been selected as two of Makng Music’s Concert Promoters Network Artists for 2008/2009.

An integral element of Anneke Scott’s career has been research. During 2005-2006 she undertook research at the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Early Music Performance where she currently teaches period horns. In 2005 she received the great privilege of being invited by The Bate Collection, Oxford to perform in concert on one of their magnificent original Hofmaster horns dating from the mid 18th century and in 2006 was interviewed by BBC TV for the BBC2 series The People’s Museum discussing the Hofmaster horns housed at Edinburgh University. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

"Baroque Brass of London is without rival in presenting brass music of the 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries on period instruments. The experience of Baroque Brass of London's players is unmatched as all are members of Europe's leading early music ensembles.

Brass instruments hold a prominent place in European musical tradition. Baroque Brass acknowledges a particular debt to David Munrow (1942 - 1976) the musicologist and distinguished performer largely responsible for the revival of early wind instruments.

The group consists of natural trumpets, cornetts, sackbuts, timpani, percussion and continuo. The trumpets use natural harmonics; the cornett was always valued for its resemblance to the human voice; the sackbut (precursor of the trombone) is soft and warm while the timpani tone is fresher and drier than its modern counterpart. The sound of the ensemble is, as might be expected, bright and pure in the larger ceremonial music and soft and supple in the smaller pieces. Baroque Brass creates a spectacular effect in the open air and in larger venues such as cathedrals. In contrast, it offers chamber music programmes in more intimate halls, such as those in palaces and castles, for example, where much of the repertoire was first performed. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

"Crispian Steele-Perkins is a trumpet soloist who is world-renowned for the quality of his performances and wide-ranging musical experience.
On graduating from the Guildhall School of Music, Crispian spent his early career playing with the English National Opera and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He then spent 15 years working in Recording, TV and film studios, developing a body of work which is universally recognisable today, from Handel to James Bond themes and pop classics.
His interest in collecting and restoring antique trumpets led him to begin performing on them - appropriately you may have heard Crispian's playing introducing the BBC's “The Antiques Roadshow”. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)